Banks and Brokerage Firms: How Safe Am I?


In light of the recent headlines around bank failures, which may have brought back some very bad memories for those investors who lived through the 2008 financial crisis, it is helpful to examine what the rules are in order to sleep better at night.   When it comes to a bank or a credit union,…

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“Timing the Market” vs “Time in the Market”


Investing can be a very emotional rollercoaster ride for many individuals.   These emotions are inherently counterintuitive.   The desire to sell during difficult periods can be quite strong.   Additionally, the desire to put money to work when markets are doing well can be equally as strong.   These emotions often lead investors to sell low and buy…

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Tax Savings on Series EE and I-Bonds for College Funding


In recent months there has been increased interest in US Treasury savings bonds, particularly I-Bonds, because of the higher interest rates resulting from the recent spike in inflation.  Investors who are pursuing these bond should ask the question, “what is the plan when they mature, or if you want to redeem them?”  If Inflation ends…

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Maximizing the Return on your Savings


After nearly a decade of near zero interest rates, 2022 was a year in which the Federal Reserve aggressively reversed course and increased interest rates multiple times.  The aggressive moves by the Fed had a major impact across the financial markets.  One of the few positives for 2022 was the increase in return that good…

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SECURE ACT 2.0


In this holiday season, the government has given savers in retirement plans a gift in the form of enhancements to the SECURE ACT of 2019.   The original SECURE ACT (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act) increased the Required Minimum Distribution age to 72 among other changes for retirement savers.  This time, they added…

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ESG Investing: Is it Impactful or Reliable?


ESG investing has been widely discussed in recent years, and many financial institutions have raced to roll out investment products that are designed to support the ESG agenda.    ESG stands for Environmental, Social & Corporate Governance.   While that is what the acronym stands for, what does it actually mean in reality?   In fact, there is…

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2023 Tax & Retirement Plans Update


Every year or two since 2001, there are annual increases to IRA contributions that are adjusted due to inflation.  However, IRA contributions are not the only thing that is adjusted for inflation.  Many components in the tax code are adjusted that can impact various aspects of retirement planning. Some of the important new limits and…

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What Does a Recession Mean for Investors?


In recent weeks we’ve heard more and more talk of the U.S. entering into a recession.  As expected, many investors are concerned about the implications of a recession on their investment portfolio.   In order to understand what might happen in the future, it’s helpful to look at what has happened in past recessions. Recessions happen…

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I-Bonds: What Are They, And Do They Make Sense?


Considering the recent high inflation environment where the March 2022 CPI figure was 8.5%, and in 2021 the average inflation was 4.7%, savers have rightfully so been looking for a safe place to put their money where its purchasing power doesn’t get eroded from the effects of inflation.   To make matters worse, savings rates on…

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Losing Money Safely: The Risks of Being Too Conservative


Market volatility is something that can cause investors a great deal of stress.  Losing money is something that nobody enjoys.  Yet we all enjoy making money when assets prices rise.   Paul Newman’s character “Fast Eddie Felson” in the 1961 film “The Hustler” reprised in the 1986 film “The Color of Money” once said that “Money…

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